Bellevue
University
PS 101
Introduction to Government and Politics
Prerequisites: None
Credit: 3 credit hours
Catalog Description: This
is a basic course designed to acquaint the student with various governmental
structures, functions, and related theories and models concerning how and why
resources and values are allocated as they are in different political
systems.
Mission: PS 101 is a
general education core course. The mission of the general education core at
Bellevue University is to assist students to achieve the essential skills and
basic knowledge important to live meaningful personal and public lives as
self-actualized individuals, participant
citizens, responsible professionals, and persons committed to family and
community.
Purpose: This course will equip
the student with a working knowledge of basic concepts, theories, models, and
frameworks related to government and politics.
The organization is progressive from conceptualization of essential
terms such as politics, political science, and political system to critical
analysis and evaluation of major selected political philosophies
and different political cultures prevailing
in different countries, and their
subsequent impact on structures and
functions of different political systems.
Objectives: Upon successful
completion of this course the student will be able to:
1.
Define major terms related to government and politics;
2.
Identify the discipline
of political science and
its major sub disciplines;
3.
Explain major differences between traditionalism and
behaviorism with respect to research focus;
4.
Explain a political
system and its various policy subsystems;
5.
Identify major steps to be taken for a scientific inquiry and
apply these steps to a selected topic;
6.
Critically evaluate major political thoughts proposed by major
Western philosophers;
7.
Compare different political cultures prevailing in different
countries and explain the subsequent impact on different ways of the allocation
of values and resources;
8.
Explain the contending negative and positive views on the role
of organized interest groups and associations in the public policy
formulation, adoption, and execution;
9.
Compare major differences between parliamentary and
presidential types of government;
10. Explain the impact of socio-economic
backgrounds of voters on their partisan voting.
Assessment and General Assignments: Students will be responsible
for all assigned readings and preparing for class discussions, as well as
completing written assignments, and written examinations. Students will also be
responsible for attending computer orientation and operation of various
software programs for data analysis, critical evaluation, and synthesis.
Samples of class projects, written reports, and examinations are available to
students.
Evaluation and Grading:
Active participation of students in class discussions, class projects,
written reports, class presentation, and examinations will be considered in
determining the final grade. Individual professors will determine the
particular grading percentages.
Course Outline:
1.
Define major terms related to government and politics.
- Government
- Politics
- Authority
- Legitimacy
- Power
2.
Identify the discipline of political science and its
subdisciplines.
- American government and politics
- Comparative politics
- International relations
- Political
philosophy
- Public Administration
- Public policy
3.
Explain major differences between traditionalism and
behaviorism with respect to research focus.
- Traditionalism
- Behaviorism
4.
Explain a political system and its various policy subsystems
a.
A political system
b.
A "smoking" policy subsystem
5.
Identify major steps to be taken for a scientific inquiry and
apply a particular topic to them
a.
Selection of a topic
b.
Formulation of hypotheses
c.
Identification of independent and dependent variables
d.
Data gathering
e.
Data analysis
f.
Testing hypotheses
g.
Generalization
h.
Feedback
6.
Critically evaluate major political thoughts proposed by salient Western European philosophers
a.
Plato
b.
Aristotle
c.
John Locke
d.
J. J. Rousseau
e.
Adam Smith
f.
A. Hamilton
g.
T. Jefferson
7.
Compare different political cultures prevailing in different
countries and explain the subsequent impact on different ways of the allocation
of values and resources in their political
systems.
a.
The parochial political
culture
b.
The subject political culture
c.
The patron-client political culture
d.
The participant political culture
8.
Explain the contending negative and positive views on the role
of organized interest groups and associations in the public policy formulation,
adoption, and implementation.
a.
James Madison
b.
Robert Salisbury's "exchange" theory
c.
E. E. Schattschneider
9.
Compare major differences between parliamentary and
presidential types of government
a.
A parliamentary type
b.
A presidential type
10. Evaluate
the impact of social and economic
backgrounds of voters on their partisan
voting.
- Sex
- Race
- Income
- Education
- Occupation
- Religion
- Family tradition
- Age
Signatures:
Originator Date
Academic Review Committee Date
Dean, College of Arts and Sciences Date
Resources:
The Bellevue University Library
The Bellevue University Computer
Center
Required Texts and/or Materials:
Winter, Herbert R. and Bellow, Thomas J. Conflict and Compromise: An
Introduction to Political Science. New York: Harper Collins Publishers,
1992.
Roskin, Michael G., Cord, Robert
L., Medeiros, James A., and Jones,
Walter S. Political Science: An Introduction. The Prentice-Hall, 1991.
Recommended Texts, Resources, and/or Supplies:
Other Resources or References:
